DENVER — The Miami Heat utilized a trio of 20-point scorers to topple the Denver Nuggets, 111-108, in Game 2 on Sunday. In pulling off that feat, it marked the first time since the Heat’s last title season (2013) that such a prolific scoring punch among Heat players populated the same box score in the NBA Finals.

Led by Gabe Vincent’s game-high 23 points, Miami snatched its seventh win this postseason after trailing by 12 points or more, marking the most such victories by any team in a single playoff run since 1997. The Heat accomplished the feat on the strength of Vincent’s big night, coupled with 21-point contributions from Bam Adebayo and Jimmy Butler.

Miami improves to 7-3 this postseason in clutch games, which is best in the NBA in 2023.

“We’re not worried about what anybody thinks,” Butler said. “We’re so focused in on what we do well, and who we are as a group. Make or miss shots, we’re going to be who we are because we’re not worried about anybody else. That’s how it’s been all year long, and that’s not going to change. I think it’s the, ‘I don’t give a damn’ factor.”

Regardless, this is Miami’s first trio since LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Ray Allen to each score at least 20 points in an NBA Finals game (theirs came in a Game 5 loss to the San Antonio Spurs in 2013). As such, that trio occupies three of the top five spots in the latest edition of 2023 Race to the NBA Finals MVP Ladder. Nuggets big man Nikola Jokic, meanwhile, holds tight at No. 1 after reeling off 41 points and 11 rebounds in Game 2 as Games 3 and 4 in Miami await.

Interestingly, Denver is 0-3 in the 2023 playoffs when Jokic scores 40 points or more. The back-to-back Kia MVP becomes the first center in NBA history to rack up 500-plus points and 100-plus assists in a single postseason.

And now, the Top 5 in our 2023 Race to the NBA Finals MVP Ladder after Game 2:

1. Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets

Last ranking: No. 1

NBA Finals stats: 34.0 points, 10.5 rebounds, 9.0 assists

Miami decided to stifle Jokic’s effectiveness as a playmaker while forcing the Nuggets center to beat them by scoring. If thought bubbles existed in real life, we likely would’ve read: “no problem” floating above his head. Jokic attempted more shots (nine) in the first quarter Sunday than he did through the first three frames of Game 1. Jokic scored 11 points to carry a squad that fell behind by 11 early, yet entered the second quarter trailing just 26-23. Denver’s supporting cast returned the favor in the second frame, thoroughly dominating the non-Jokic minutes by 13, as the Nuggets lead 57-51 at halftime. When Miami turned the game into a rock fight coming out of halftime, Jokic kept firing, pouring in 18 points in the third quarter on 6-for-10 shooting. Jokic finished with a game-high 41 points and 11 rebounds, but the center’s four assists marked his fewest of this postseason. In fact, Jokic tallied more turnovers (five) than assists. Still, Jokic’s 68 points in his first two Finals appearances tie Kevin Durant for the third-most in NBA history behind Allen Iverson (71 points in 2001) and Michael Jordan (69 points in 1991).

2. Gabe Vincent, Miami Heat

Last ranking: Not ranked

NBA Finals stats: 21.0 points, 1.0 rebounds, 4.0 assists

Vincent was Miami’s second-leading scorer in Game 1, and picked up right where he left off in Game 2. Through three quarters, he shot 7-for-10 overall and was 3-for-4 on 3-pointers for 18 points. He then closed the final frame with five points on 1-for-2 shooting, ending the night with a team-high 23 points while embodying Miami’s relentless fight in the process against Denver’s lengthy defenders. With Butler struggling to find a rhythm to start this series, Vincent and Adebayo continue to fill in the gaps with solid production. Vincent has scored in double figures in each of the last six games, averaging 18.8 points on 52.6% overall and 55.3% on 3-pointers during that span. Additionally, he shot 66.7% overall in Game 2.

3. Bam Adebayo, Miami Heat

Last ranking: No. 5

NBA Finals stats: 23.5 points, 11.0 rebounds, 4.5 assists

Scored 21 points in producing a solid showing that was more efficient than Game 1. Adebayo finished only one rebound shy of what would’ve been his 18th career 20-10 playoff game. Sure, the two-time All-Star surrendered 20 points defending Jokic in Game 1. And despite the two-time MVP’s gaudy numbers in Game 2, the Heat center logged two blocks and played a role in Jokic committing a game-high five turnovers. “We just can’t say enough how difficult his responsibilities are in this series,” Spoelstra said. Keep in mind Miami entered the Finals averaging a playoff-best 19.3 points off turnovers. The Heat scored 19 points off 14 Denver giveaways Sunday after producing just nine points off turnovers in Game 1. The Nuggets entered Game 2 leading the playoffs in points in the paint (51.1 per game) but finished Sunday with 48.

4. Jimmy Butler, Miami Heat

Last ranking: Not ranked

NBA Finals stats: 17.0 points, 5.5 rebounds, 8.0 assists

Butler fought through a tough night shooting (7-for-19 overall) in bouncing back from a 2023 playoff low of 13 points in Game 1. Butler scored 21 in Game 2 and showed more aggression and force than in Game 1, flexing Miami’s trademark resilience during crucial moments. The six-time All-Star dished nine assists while committing only one turnover, and fought valiantly on the final possession of the game to prevent Jamal Murray from sending the game into overtime. “I think he got off a decently good look,” Butler said. “Kind of like a high pick-and-roll isolation and I just contested it. Pretty glad that he missed it to give us a 1-1 series tie going back to Miami.”

5. Jamal Murray, Denver Nuggets

Last ranking: No. 2

NBA Finals stats: 22.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, 10.0 assists

Murray’s five-game streak of scoring 25 points or more finally came to an end, and Denver could’ve used one of the point guard’s patented bursts down the stretch of this one. With Butler defending, the 26-year-old fired a step back 25-footer with 1.9 seconds left that would’ve sent Game 2 into overtime. But, his shot clanged off the rim as time expired. Murray is now 5-for-15 from 3-point range over his last two games, but he managed to cobble together an 18-point double-double that included 10 assists. “We can’t have spurts of good play,” Murray said. “We’ve got to play all the way through, [the] ups and downs, stay together, and play with intensity and energy. I don’t think we had that.”

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Michael C. Wright is a senior writer for NBA.com. You can e-mail him here, find his archive here and follow him on Twitter.

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